NCAA BASKETBALL RPI TOP 10

The Rating Percentage Index (RPI) is one of the most important factors that the NCAA Basketball Tournament Selection Committee takes into consideration when filling at-large berths in the tournament. Although the RPI is not officially released to the public, the formula for computing it is fairly well known and we continuously apply it to all Division I teams throughout the season.

What follows is our first RPI Top 10 for the 2005-2006 season. We will try to provide updates on these rankings every two weeks, usually on Tuesdays.

1 - DUKE (RPI = .742): Of course being undefeated helps, but what makes the Blue Devils 14-0 record even more impressive is that they have accomplished it vs. the third toughest schedule in the country! Duke opponents have a cumulative winning percentage of .699, and the Devils have already beaten the likes of Texas, Memphis and Indiana out of conference.

2 - MEMPHIS (.696): The Tigers are 13-2, but their RPI is boosted by the fact that they have faced THE toughest schedule in the country. Memphis opponents have a remarkable winning percentage of .711, and losing only to Duke and Texas is certainly no disgrace. The Tigers do have some nice wins vs. Gonzaga and UCLA at home, as well as vs. Cincinnati and Alabama on the road.

3 - VILLANOVA (.673): The Wildcats suffered a late meltdown and fell 91-87 at home to West Virginia at home on Sunday, but that still leaves them at 9-1 vs. teams with a combined winning percentage of .655 so far. This team has beaten Oklahoma at home and has gone on the road and won handily at a couple of tough venues in Louisville and Temple.

4 - WISCONSIN (.672): Yes Wisconsin is off to a fine 12-2 start, but our concern with the Badgers is that while they are a perfect 11-0 at home, they are just 1-2 on the road losing at Pittsburgh and Wake Forest. This RPI is enhanced by the fact that they beat some very good teams at home, but we would like to see some quality road wins before grouping the Badgers with the elite teams in the nation.

5 - ILLINOIS (.662): The Fighting Illini have managed to go 14-1 so far in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for them. Illinois is also perfect at home at 11-0, but unlike Wisconsin the Illini have a couple of nice road wins, winning at North Carolina and blowing out Oregon by 30 points at Eugene!

6 - UCLA (.661): The Bruins have been a surprise to many at 13-2, especially considering their brutal non-conference schedule. Yes they lost at home to California in Pac-10 play, but their only other loss was by just eight points at Memphis. The Bruins have impressive road wins at Arizona and Michigan, as well as a quality win vs. Temple.

7 - TENNESSEE (.659): The Volunteers have been another surprise at 10-1, losing only at Oklahoma State. Remember that this team was good enough to go into Austin and blow out Texas by 17 points, but the Vols probably need to keep winning to remain ranked as their opponents have a rather modest .601 mark to the point.

8 - INDIANA (.658): At 10-2, the Hoosiers would be ranked higher is not for an almost inexplicable loss at Indiana State. Their only other loss was by just eight points to top-ranked Duke, and this team has rolled up wins vs. Kentucky, Ohio State and Michigan at home, as well as a nice road triumph over an underrated Charlotte team.

9 - ARIZONA (.656): The Wildcats may be just 10-4, but they crack the RPI Top 10 due to the fact that they have faced the second toughest schedule in the land. Arizona opponents have an outstanding winning percentage of .703and this team has scored impressive road wins at Washington and Utah, snapping long home winning streaks for those two schools in the process.

10 - OHIO STATE (.651): The Buckeyes round out the Top 10 at 11-1, losing only by two points at Indiana. However, we feel that this stay will be short-lived as Ohio State opponents so far are winning at just a .560 clip, and we do not expect the Buck to roll through the Big Ten Conference.